When the Trinity Catholic High School basketball team has struggled this season, it has been due to individualistic play. That was the case last night, as the Crusaders lost their composure during a decisive 12-2 fourth-quarter run that carried No. 25 Bulkeley to a 67-62 win over the top-seeded Crusaders tonight in the Class L Tournament quarterfinals.
The Bulldogs, the only team to defeat Windsor, are a cautionary tale about how seeds in the state playoffs can be deceiving. They overcame an 11-point first-quarter deficit by outhustling the Crusaders on the boards. Trinity, which made seven straight shots at one point and 9 of 16 in the first quarter, seemed to panic in the final period, with each player trying to overcome the deficit on his own rather than tap the teamwork that had carried the team for most of the season.
After a 22-0 start, the Crusaders finished the season 2-2 and lost 11-point leads in their two defeats.
It was a cruel ending for seniors Tevin Baskin, Eric Jean-Guillaume and Ryan Adkins, who had great careers and won 92 games, but only have one FCIAC title to show for it.
We will have to see what the roster looks like next year.
As for why the team lost last night, when it plays together you get what happened in the first quarter. When not, you get the last three quarters.
Plus give credit to Bulkeley. There is a lot of talent there and many of its losses came when Brandon Jones did not play.
Trinity will be back next year. They must restock with a point guard, a center and a power forward. Herb Williams son might go to Trinity next year plus a top recruit from Danbury is in the works. How does this team lose?